Coast Guard medevacs man from ship

The Coast Guard medevaced a man from a tanker ship 11 miles off the coast of Galveston on Saturday evening.

Watchstanders at Sector Houston-Galveston received a report at approximately 6:15pm that a 54-year-old man aboard the Stoltz Topaz, a 580-foot tanker vessel, was suffering from heart attack symptoms.

Air Station Houston launched an MH-65C Dolphin helicopter and rescue crew to the scene at approximately 7pm. The crew successfully hoisted the man off the Stoltz Topaz and transported him to awaiting emergency medical services at the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston. The man's condition is unknown.

"The command center was notified about the medical emergency and expertly coordinated efforts between Air Station Houston and UTMB Galveston," said Lt. Laura Salemme, command duty officer for Sector Houston-Galveston. "This coordination resulted in the safe and timely transportation of the patient off the commercial tanker."